Yes on Prop 8

In light of the recent uproar surrounding the Proposition 8 Campaign here in Southern California, I felt it necessary to finally write my feelings about it here on my blog, in addition to the comments I have made on others' blogs.

As worried as I am about this proposition passing, I'm probably more saddened by the way people on either side of the debate are treating each other. I hear daily stories of harassment, defacement of property, and stealing of propaganda signs. Just today, my husband and adult daughter volunteered to hold signs up in favor of Prop 8 and had to endure the anger of a few passing drivers. One actually almost had a fender bender because he wanted to make sure the sign holders saw his middle finger!

Today I received an email with some photos of a family who after having had their yard sign stolen, decided to place a banner on the front of their second story home, only to have two people park their SUV in front of their home and decorate it with hate speech, including "haters",and "bigots live here" and an arrow pointing towards this family's house.

Unfortunately, the hate works both ways and there are many who take advantage of this campaign to promote their own hateful agendas towards the gay and lesbian community.

I wish we could all agree to disagree and respect each other's points of view and respect our freedom of speech and of expression.

I wish others would not abuse their freedom of speech and of expression to promote hate and anger. I know how passionate and heated a debate can be, but where is our self-control and self-restraint? How much better are we if we insult and degrade the opposition?

I wish the citizens of this State remember that we belong to a Country established by good, God fearing men who acted only in the best interest of the people, setting an example to many other countries.

I hope that after all is said and done, and after the results reflect the will of the majority, they will be respected by the minority. This is, after all, the United States of America, home of freedom and democracy.

I pray that God will be with us throughout this trial and that this trial will bring out the best of us and not the worst.

I count my blessings

1. I love my family
2. My husband cooks regularly
3. I have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life
4. I can and do vote
5. I live in a free country where I enjoy freedom of speech and of religion
6. I have a great relationship with my mother and father
7. I have a great relationship with my brother and sisters and am very proud of their accomplishments
8. My brother is a green beret and is proudly serving his country
9. I live in sunny Southern California and the weather is amazing
10. I live only 1/2 hour from the surf and only an hour from the slopes
11. I live on a hill and love it because I love hills and mountains
12. I have food in my pantry
13. I have a house
14. My husband has a job
15. We have an earthquake emergency kit for all of our family members
16. I can see with both my eyes (my vision is 20/20 with my contacts in!)
17. I am almost 40 and can still kick-butt!
18. I love music and sing along always
19. My son shares his love of music with me
20. My daughters share their love of dance, TaeKwonDo and art with me too
21. My kids are funny and make me laugh
22. I have visited some very cool cities around the world: London, Vienna, Prague, Quito, etc..
23. I can still fit into my 1983 cheer leading uniform (although it doesn't look as good on me anymore!)
24. I can speak two languages: English and Spanish (I wish I could say three, but three years of French I took in school never paid off!)
25. I was born in an exotic country: Costa Rica
26. Our house has been out of harms way during the fires
27. I can drive a stick-shift
28. I can take warm showers and do so at least once daily (I love feeling squeaky clean!)
29. Even if it's unaffordable, I have air conditioning at home and use it when I'm very hot
30. I love my feet and think they are cute (I don't care what anyone else says!)
31. I'm not a picky eater
32. I'm not afraid of turning 40
33. My daughter Sofia says she will take care of me when I am old and decrepit(I'm sure she will change my diapers in my old age too!)

Important Update!

So much has been going on in my life, that I haven't made time to write. But I felt it necessary to include a little update after my last entry before I write anything new.
Sofia has yet to pierce her tongue (I'm still holding my breath!) and my computer tech abilities have certainly improved....well they haven't caved. But as life would have it, I have plenty of other new things to upset me or fret over. Will proposition 8 pass? Will my girls keep up with their piano practice enough to apease their piano teacher? Will gas prices ever be afordable again and will our house ever appreciate again? Heck, will my strep throat ever go away? (This explains my new found time for writing!)

I have to remind myself that I am not the only person on the planet with problems and I'm sure there are plenty of others out there who can put my problems to shame, so my next entry will be a list of all the wonderful things I enjoy and am blessed with! So read on....